Lloyd nottingham



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIOE.

LLOYD NOTTINGHAM, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNO'R TO THOMAS J.

NOTTINGHAM, OF sAME PLACE.

eoor OR SHOE STR'ETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 374,805, dated December 13, 1887.

Application filed September 27,1887. Serial No. 250,824. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYD NOTTINGHAM, of Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new-anduseful Improvement in Boot or Shoe Stretchers, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in combination'-stretchers-thatis tosay, in instruments adapted for stretching a boot or shoe in lgenth and width, and also in the instep portion.

The objects of the invention are reduction of cost of manufactu re, increased strength, and greater durability, simplicity, and efliciency; and I attain these objects byhieans of the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described.

'In the-accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the manner. of applying the instrument for the purpose of stretching a boot lengthwise. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the manner of applying the stretcher for stretching two boots in the instep simultaneously. Fig. 3 is aperspective view illustrating the manner of applying the stretcher for stretching a shoe in width, or across the ball. Fig. 4is a perspective view of the stretcher proper, together with the coupling device applied for connecting its two separable parts when used to stretch the instep or length of a boot or shoe. Fig. 5is a cross-section of the same on line 00 :12, Fig. 4.. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the coupling device, which I propose to term a coupler. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the two parts of the stretcher proper separated from each other. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal central section of the stretcher proper and aportion of the stretchin'glevers, illustrating the former applied to the latter in the manner required for Fig. 1, the stretcher proper, B, Fig. 4, and the vided with lugs 12 and projections c, similarly to the levers A. (See Fig. 5.) The function of these lugs b and projections c is to enable the levers A or coupler O to be securely attached to the stretcher proper, B, as will be presently explained. A single screw, d, having a cross-handle, passes through one lever A and acts against the other one.

The stretcher proper, B, Figs. 4 and 8, is formed of two separable duplicate semi-tubular parts, 1 1, which, when put together, form a tubular shank or body and an approximately conical head. The parts 1 1 are connected by the coupler C, Fig. 6, when the instrument is used for stretching a boot or shoe lengthwise or in the instep, as shown in Figs. land 2, and the parts 1 1 are used without said coupler Gin stretching the instep portion, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8.

I will now describe in detail how the parts 1 1 of the stretcher proper, B, are attached to the levers A, or to the coupler G, as the case may be, and the manner of manipulating or using the instrument in the severalstretching operations.

lugs b enter first the enlarged portions of the slots 0 and then pass into the smaller portions thereof, (see Fig. 8,) so that the shoulders of the lugs overlap the adjacent edges of the slots. To prevent the parts 1 1 sliding backward, and thus becoming accidentally detached, I have found the best and simplest means to be the before-described projections c, which constitue a sort of wedge, tending to throw the rear ends of the parts 1 1 outward, and thus increasing the friction between them coupler C, Fig. 6, for connecting the two sepac rable portions of the latter when required.

and the shoulders of the lugs 12. There is'a I00 socket, 9, Fig. 9, formed in the rear end of the stretcher proper, and the latter has also a foot or heel, 9.

When the stretcher proper, B, is applied to the levers, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the in strument is adapted for use in stretching a boot or shoe laterally, or across the ball. The stretcherproper, B, is then inserted in the boot or shoe, Fig. 3, and the screw d turned until the levers A have been spread far enough to effect the desired result. Oops are formed in the sides of the head of the stretcher proper, B, to provide for attachment of bunion-caps, as shown.

To prepare the instrument for use in stretching a boot or shoe lengthwise,as shown in Fig. 1, the parts 1 l of the stretcher proper are connected by the coupling'piece G, as best shown in Fig. 4.

To stretch aboot lengthwise, as shown in Fig. 1, a detachable cap, f, is applied to the front extremity of the stretcher proper, B. To provide for this attachment, the parts 1 1 have semicircular notches that form, when the parts 1 1 are put together, as in Fig. 4, a circular opening adapted to receive the pin with which the cap is provided. The said cap f presses against the toe of the boot or shoe, and the levers A, being set vertically, one arm presses against the heel of said boot or shoe and the other against the stretcher proper, B, as shown. Then by turning the screw d the ends of the levers will be forced apart and the stretching duly efi'ected. To stretch a boot vertically, or along the instep, the parts A and B are arranged as shown in Fig. 2-t hat is to say, one lever A is inserted in the socket or aperture g (see Fig. 9) forward above the heel of the stretcher proper, and the opposite lever bears downward on the shank of the shoe. A cap, f, is inter oscd between the stretcher proper, B, and t e leather of the boot or shoe.

' To provide for its adjustmentalong the stretcher proper, so that the instep may be stretched at any desired point, the shank or body of the stretcher proper is so constructed as to provide a lengthwise slot, h, Fig. 4, in which the cap may be adjusted by sliding it along the slot.

An important feature of my invention consists in the adaptability of the stretcher for use in stretching two boots or shoes at the same time by means of one and the same screw. To accomplish this the levers are extended equally from the pivot a, thus forming four arms of like length and shape, and which are also similarly provided with lugs b and projections 0. By applying the screw d on one side of the pivot a---that is to say, to an arm of one of the levers-so that its point will bear on the opposite arm of the other lever, both levers will be spread equally at each end when the screw is rotated for the purpose.

Fig. 2 illustrates the stretcher in use stretch ing two boots or shoes in the instep at the same time but the stretcher is adapted for stretching readily and at any defined point either one boot or shoe or two boots or shoes at the same time in the length, in the width, or in the instep. It can be very quickly adjusted for its difi'erent modes of use. When the parts 1 1 are coupled together, it is ready for either instep or length stretching,and if attached to the levers it is ready for width-stretching, and the change is so simple as to require little time and effort.

What I claim is- 1. The stretching'levers jointed together at their middle and each provided at each end with a lug, as specified, to adapt them for connection and use with two stretchers proper simultaneously, and a single screw which passes through one lever and bears onthe other, thus serving to spread the levers at both ends si multaneously, for the purpose specified.

2. The stretching-levers pivoted together and having arms of like length and shape, and the single screw d, applied on one side of the pivot, in combination with two stretchers proper, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination, with the stretcher proper made in two parts having side slots, of stretching-levers having lugs adapted to engage with the said stretcher, as shown and described.

4. The combination,with the stretcher proper having a socket in its rear end, of the levers A, adapted for use therewith in the-rnanner described for the purpose of stretching a boot or shoe vertically or lengthwise.

5. The combination,with the stretcher proper formed in two parts, 1 1, and having side slots, as specified, of stretching-levers having lugs adapted to enter said slots, and inclined bearings c, for producing increased wedging or frictional action for the purpose of preventing accidental detachment of the stretcher from the levers, as specified.

6. The combination, with the stretcher proper formed of two like semi-tubular parts having side slots, of a metal coupler having lugs adapted to enter said slots, as shown and described.

7. In the boot or shoe stretcher herein described, the stretcher proper formed of the two like semi'tubular parts having side slots, as and for the purpose specified.

8. In the boot or shoe stretcher herein described, the stretcher proper having side slots and a socket, g, in its rear end, as and for the purpose specified.

9. In the boot or shoe stretcher herein described, the stretcher proper having a lengthwise slot in its upper side to receive the pin Witnesses:

G. M. NOTTINGHAM, B. P. ADAMS. 

